Page Page Page of 6 Coral reefs are considered to be among the most ecologically diverse systems in the world Coral reefs are created from small coral animals which are classified in the cnidarian ID: 188361
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Page Page of 6 Symbiosis The phrase symbiotic relationship simply refers to a close ecological relationship between two different species. These relationships differ along a spectrum from positive to negative interactions. If both species benefit from the interaction, the relationship is considered to be a mutualism. When one species benefits and Page Page of 6 Coral reefs are considered to be among the most ecologically diverse systems in the world. Coral reefs are created from small coral animals which are classified in the cnidarian group. As adults, corals are stationary and are considered sessile. They have small soft bodies, each protected by a hard calcium carbonate skeletal structure that is secreted continuously at the base of the body over the animalÕs lifetime.ii As coral feed, they use their tentacles to reach out and capture small plankton and fish. Once a potential threat swims by, the coral retreat into their protective skeleton. Coral Page Page predators, they often hop on the back of a chocolate chip sea star for camouflage, while the sea star is completely unaffected.v Parasitic interactions are common in any ecosystem, and the coral reef is no exception. Sea spiders are considered parasites to table coral. Sea spiders often seek protection and will pierce the body of the coral (called the polyp) and live inside them. Herbivory is illustrated in coral reefs by several species, including the long-spined sea urchin as well as herbivorous fish species. These urchins and fish will graze on algae that are commonly found throughout the reef, which will essentially take over and Page Page of 6 complexity in the coral reef, involves the saddled butterflyfish and the sea anemone. We mentioned earlier that clownfish protect the anemone against their predator, which happens to be a saddled butterflyfish!vii There are many more types of interactions within not only the coral reef community but in communities all over the world. However, these examples give a glimpse of the complexity that can Page Page http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clown_fish_amphiprion.jpg Figure 5. Sea Spider http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Sea_spider.jpg Figure 6. Barracuda Fish http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barracuda(kok).jpg Figure 7. Saddled Butterflyfish Page Page